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6/30/16

I do believe Saturday mornings were made for farmer's markets. I heard great things about the KCC Farmer's Market, so I was excited to see what they had in store for us. It's located in the parking lot at Kapiolani Community College, 4303 Diamond Head Rd, in Honolulu.

There were SO many vendors at the Farmer's Market! There were nuts, candies, jams, jellies, honey, fruits, vegetables, candles, soaps, and so much more. It's the biggest farmer's market I've ever seen. I also noticed they are open on Tuesday evenings too.

It was late in the morning when we arrived, so we didn't get to spend as much time there as we wanted to, so we plan to visit again on another day. There were lots of unique fruits and vegetables that I'd never seen before!

The flower stands overflowed with gorgeous tropical flowers. Some of the flower stalks were taller than I am! There were delicious food samples to taste, and even local musicians to hear. Be sure to leave a tip for the musicians.

Check out these carrots -- they are as colorful as tropical flowers! We purchased avocados and tomatoes, as well as some delicious smokey salsa. TIP: take a backpack to carry your purchases so you can shop hands-free!

There are also lots of vendors cooking foods from all over the world. If you arrive early, you can have breakfast, shop until lunch, then eat lunch there too. Grab a delicious cup of Hawaii-grown coffee too!

Wear sunscreen and comfortable shoes while you shop at the base of Diamondhead. It's a lot of fun and the prices are great too! We rode over from Wakiki on TheBus, and it took less than 30 minutes to get there.

6/28/16

Disclosure: I received product at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

Songa Designs International is an ecofriendly lifestyle and accessories brand with products crafted by women in Rwanda in East Africa. These necklaces, bracelets, earrings, belts, and other specialty accessories, are made using fair trade principles, and provide women the opportunity to earn their own income.

I received the Joya Pewter Pendant Necklace and I simply love it! Its curved lines and deep turquoise remind me of the rolling ocean around the Hawaiian islands. Songa Designs International has just announced the launch of a debut home decor collection of hand-crafted baskets that will be available worldwide beginning in July 2016.

You'll be able to dress up yourself and your home with these stylish, high-quality items from Songa Designs International, while helping women in Rwanda. "After the genocide, life was difficult," explains Jacqueline, Songa Design's banana leaf specialty artisan. "We were living in a small home that we rented, and were always asked to pay more and more money. I could not find a job and if my husband got sick we were afraid. But now that I have a job with Songa, I am the breadwinner. We are no longer renting and I can afford school for my children and health insurance for my family."

6/27/16

Being in Hawaii doesn't just mean you get sandy beaches, warm sunshine, and ocean waves. It's also the opportunity to indulge in the rich heritage of Hawaii's royalty. Iolani Palace is the only official state residence of royalty in the United States. Hawaii has a fascinating, and sometimes sobering, history and learning about it made me appreciate these beautiful islands even more.

Iolani Palace is located in downtown Honolulu, at 364 South King Street. It surrounded by a large yard, filled with stately palm trees. Within the old military barracks (below), we found a gift shop where we purchased tickets for the audio tour of the palace. The audio tour was an invaluable tool for our visit. It allowed us to listen to the history behind each room in the palace, as well as allowed us to browse at our own pace. There were also people throughout the palace that were happy to answer questions or provide more information.

The Coronation Pavilion:

The Grand Hall Staircase:

The Throne Room:

The Queen's Bedroom:

A royal bathroom:

The King's Library:

The Music Room:

The King's Bedroom:

The entrance to the Queen's room of imprisonment:

There is so much to learn about Hawaii's history! I am purposely not sharing all of the rooms, nor the stories of the rooms, because you need to come and experience it yourself. I was amazed at how humbled I felt after leaving the palace. It is an incredible place, filled with exquisitely beautiful furniture, dishes, jewelry, weapons, decor, and so much more.

Iolani Palace is a "MUST DO" on your trip to Hawaii! When you're done exploring Iolani Palace, stop across the street for a photo of the iconic King Kamehameha statue.

Disclosure: I received product at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

Summer is such a busy season for everyone! Kids need constant fuel, whether they're at the beach, the zoo, the park, or the local swimming pool. With all that energy going out, it's important that kids (and parents) consume a variety of healthy foods.

Bakery On Main has created some amazing kid-friendly snacks that are delicious and nutritious. Bunches Of Crunches is a great out-of-the-bag snack. In flavors like Coconut Cacao and Dark Chocolate Sea Salt, Bunches Of Crunches is packed with superfoods.

This sweet and crunchy snack brings together Chia seeds, Cacao, and ancient grains such as Amaranth and Millet. Each serving offers 10g of whole grains to refuel your kids after a busy day in the sun. I love this crunchy sweet snack!

Bakery On Main also offers a variety of 4-4-8 Granola Bars. The convenience of individually wrapped granola bars means you can toss a few into your kids' backpacks or beach bags. Tuck a few into your handbag so you can have tasty goodness yourself during the day!

These kid-friendly bars come in great flavors like Oat and Honey, Double Chocolate, Peanut Butter and Jelly, and Peanut Butter and Chocolate. Each one provides 4g of protein, 4g of fiber, and 8g of sugar.

4-4-8 Bars are certified gluten-free, Non-GMO Project Verified, and made in the USA with a clean ingredient list. They are also low in sodium, trans fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol. These snacks are free of dairy, casein, and refined sugar.

Bakery On Main makes incredibly delicious granola bars. My favorite one is the Double Chocolate, but the Peanut Butter and Chocolate is a very close second. These granola bars taste fresh out of the oven!

The 4-4-8 Granola Bars are just the right amount of chewy and softness without falling apart when you eat one. I really don't like granola bars that are so hard that they fall apart when you take a bite, and Bakery On Main has figured out the exact right combination of ingredients to avoid that.

Provide your kids the best kinds fuel this summer with Bakery On Main. Find out more information about these kid-friendly snacks at www.bakeryonmain.com. They've got lots of other great products that are good for you and your kids too, so check out their entire line of products!

About Me

Hi! I'm Lisa and we live in a very small town in Kansas. Read my blog for product reviews, home decor ideas, travel tips, and more. Follow along as we renovate and restore our 1888 farmhouse. I'm also raising baby goats. I'm so glad you're here!